Annotated slides from a presentation to teachers in post-compulsory education on threshold topics (beyond concepts)

1. How to cheat at teaching Peter Hadfield James Atherton PCE Study Day 28 March 09

2. It’s only cheating in the sense of knowing where to put your effort, as Delia argues

3. Pareto Principle Amount of effort expended Amount of task achieved The principle, or 80/20 rule, suggests that in some situations you can get 80% of the effect for 20% of the effort. Teaching may be one of those situations. 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

6. Notes made from your feedback on the question.

7. Some possible threshold topics These are both places where students may get stuck, but also ways in to further learning

8. Reminds us of how basic it is to be able to read. And how impossible it is not to read once you know how

10. The sharpest tool is the safest tool Is this any more than a sound maxim? Perhaps, if it makes you think about tool use differently

11. Wash your hands properly Always use a hand basin provided exclusively for washing hands Use comfortably hot water. Rub your hands vigorously to work in the soap Don’t forget the areas in between your fingers and around your wrists Rinse your hands before drying them Can you get more banal than this? Perhaps not, but raising awareness of what is implied by such a routine act may be part of the realisation of taking on a specialised role e.g. chef, nurse

15. Do you get that? Not really—explain more please Just about—carry on Yes—carry on Just checking understanding!

18. Three kinds of threshold topic We are suggesting that there are different kinds of threshold topics corresponding to the three domains of Bloom’s taxonomy.

20. Crossing the threshold (liminality) is not necessarily a straightforward experience.

21. A guide to recognising what may be a threshold topic. Changes how a topic is understood

22. Changes how a topic is understood Misunderstanding often not apparent until later

28. Do you get that? Not really—explain more please Just about—carry on Yes—carry on